We clean our rooms and clothes so why not our Macs? But who can waste the entire day digging through folders and files? There are so many places like music, videos, apps and email downloads, and countless more locations on your Mac where junk and clutter accumulates. In 2021 cleaning your Mac is easier than ever. Which is why millions of people download free and low-cost Mac cleaning software.
Found 1.4GB - Interface is easy to navigate. Options are presented clearly and junk files are organized in a way that is familiar to the native Windows file explorer. Linus Media Group is not associated with these services. Sign Up; Forums All Activity My Activity Streams. 5 re boot if clean turn on system restore. Now look for a better free AV one that's guards Like Free Avast or Free Avira. Malwarebytes is not a antivirus - its a antimalware program which removes rogue programs. Combofix is not a antivirus - Do not use unless you have the knowledge to use it. Have sent you a e mail.
To start off, we've made a quick comparison chart about best Mac cleaners for Mac.
| Rating | Name | Features | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CleanMyMac X | Best cleaning and antimalware functionality in one tool | Link |
| 2 | Disk Doctor | Quick scan and deep cleaning of all kinds of junk | Link |
| 3 | Gemini 2 | Finds duplicate and similar files everywhere on your Mac, including Photos, iTunes, and external drives. | Link |
A handy cleaner may prove that your Mac is still alive and can actually perform at its best. In this article we've brought together some of the best Mac cleaning solutions around to clean, optimize, and maintain Macs that are available in 2020.
Top 10 best cleaners for Mac: Free and premium versions
1. CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X takes the first place with good reason — this cleaner combines features of both cleaning software and antimalware tool. Its Smart Scan promises a 'nice and thorough scan of your Mac.' It does what it says, detecting junk like user cache files and system logs, checking your Mac for malicious software, and speeding up your MacBook. Looks like, there is a threat in my system, that I need to get rid of:
Frankly speaking, CleanMyMac X is Tesla Roadster among other Mac cleaners. And it does a great job revealing your junk and other clutter, uninstalling unneeded apps and their leftovers, and keeping your Mac's system clean and optimized. Another pro is that CleanMyMac X is Apple-notarized, which means it's safe for your Mac. You can download its free version right here.
Price: $39.95
Free version: Available here
2. Disk Doctor
Disk Doctor is developed in the UK and was awarded the 'Mac Gem' award by MacWorld in 2013. CNET and other tech journalists also praise functionality. As of 2020, it still looks like a useful tool for Mac cleaning that removes junk slowing down and reducing the computing power of your Mac.
Price: $2.99
Free version: N/A
3. Gemini 2
Gemini 2 is the duplicate finder that allows you to free up gigabytes of storage and organize your files. In just a few minutes.
It quickly scans every corner of your Mac and weeds out useless copies. No matter what type of file it is: a photo, music track, or a doc… Gemini will definitely find it. And once the scan is done, you can remove the duplicates in a click. Or review results to make sure nothing important gets deleted.
If you remove something by accident, it takes just a click to put it back. And to make sure things like that never happen again, you can exclude specific files and folders from scan. Try out the free version right here.
Price: $19.96
Free version: Available here
4. Onyx
OnyX is a french Mac cleaning solution developed by Titanium software. It weighs only 5 MB but that doesn't mean its capabilities are limited. OnyX is a tool that programmers will have a lot of fun with. With it, you can peek under the hood of your macOS and automate a whole list of jobs, like disk cleanup and cache removal. You can even tweak the color of folders on your Mac, and even make them invisible. Deservedly, it's among the best free Mac cleaners.
OnyX is one of the best Mac cleaners because it cleans many specific under-the-surface files, like inner databases and logs. If you know what is XPC cache is, you'll probably like this app. But for us, ordinary Mac users who came here for the design and glossy buttons, OnyX will require some learning time.
Those who use OnyX say it is stable and reliable. There is no dedicated customer service (because OnyX is free software), but you shouldn't be worried. The only likely damage is you accidentally deleting files by yourself.
Price: Free cleaner
5. DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk gives you a visual representation of your Mac folders, making it easy to see what is taking up space and delete the folders you don't need. Download microsoft word mac trial. All you need to do is select a drive, DaisyDisk will scan it, then you can delete everything that is wasting valuable space. It comes with a free and premium version.
Price:$9.99
Free version: Trial version available
6. AppCleaner & Uninstaller
If you only need to uninstall apps on Mac, AppCleaner is a good pick. AppCleaner only removes applications, plugins, and widgets, which are again, small apps. AppCleaner works in a familiar drag & drop mode. Its interface is also clean and easy to understand for a newbie.
After feeding the apps to AppCleaner, you should visit the Leftovers section of the app to erase their remains. Why we place AppCleaner & Uninstaller among free Mac cleaner tools? Because it is 100% free. Whether you will fully clean your Mac using it, is a different question.
AppCleaner & Uninstaller is created by FreeMacSoft, also the makers of LiteIcon, an icon customizer for Mac.
Price: Voluntary donation
7. Smart Mac Care
If you launch Smart Mac Care, it will look hauntingly familiar to other free Mac cleaner apps. Not only features will be called the same, everything up to the fonts, will be identical to some other app you've just used. That's not a minus, though. You can still free up a lot of space with Smart Mac Care.
Smart Mac Care operates by a logic of 'scans.' There is a Junk Scan, Malware Scan, Privacy Scan, etc. Just like Mac Booster, Smart Mac Care removes duplicates scattered in various locations on your Mac. There's also a Memory Optimizer feature that promises to free up RAM on your Mac. In a word, Smart Mac Care resembles every other generic product whose only difference is in packaging. This is supported by the fact that we couldn't find any credible third-party reviews for this app.
On another skeptical note: to uninstall Smart Mac Care you have to enter your admin password. This is not the case with other Mac cleaners we've used.
Price: $56.62 per year
Free version: Demo available Nc20 vs nw20.
8. Drive Genius
Adware Cleaner Malwarebytes 8.0.1
Drive Genius is labeled a 'Mac monitoring software.' It's a whole suite of tools that provide powerful disk diagnostics. It's hard to list a thing that this software doesn't do. You can scan for malware, secure-erase files, customize icons — it's dozens of apps in one body. What makes Drive Genius unique is, probably, its search for corrupted files and inconsistencies on your drive. If your Mac is an old one, keeping it in good health will be easier with Drive Genius.
In a free version, you can use just a fraction of tools, notably a DiskPulse utility. This is an automatic Mac health checker that notifies you before your hard drive fails. Unlike Mac cleaners that merely scan, it is able to repair damage on your disks, which makes it a real deal. Be prepared that hard drive scan may take some time, but the results are worth it. Also note that Drive Genius is not available for macOS Catalina (as of the beginning of 2020).
Price: $299 for Professional edition
Free version: Limited Lite edition is available
9. CCleaner
Originally created in 2004 by Piriform, CCleaner comes with a free and professional version, focusing on businesses and business customers. CCleaner is a cross-platform tool, for PCs, Macs, Android, and it has a Cloud, Network and Technician tool, depending on what you need and the platform/software you use.
The premium version comes with a lot more features, including real-time alerts, free updates, and dedicated support. Although created for PCs in the early days, CCleaner does well to identify unwanted files on a Mac, so that users can select and delete the files and folders they don't need to free up space. As a cleaner for Mac, customers are pretty happy with the results of CCleaner.
Price: $19.95
Free version: Available
10. Sensei
The Sensei app is a relatively new app on the market, but it can be another useful tool for your Mac. The Sensei software developers call the app 'Pro Mac Cleaner' on their website. I would call it a performance controlling tool.
Sensei presents a detailed picture of how your Mac performs. In the Dashboard, you can find out information about your MacBook, check your CPU's current temperature, and see how much of your RAM is used. Cooling gives you exact information on your Mac's fans' speed.
Its Clean option helps to get rid of user cache, logs, large files, etc. The Uninstaller feature allows you to delete apps from your Mac and remove their traces. It doesn't list pre-installed apps from Apple, such as Safari or Calendar, but it shows every app you have installed on your Mac.
Surely, you can clean up your Mac manually, but using dedicated software will save you tons of time.
Price: $29 per year
Free version: Available
Frequently Asked Questions
Can't my Mac clean itself?
Your macOS also has a built-in Mac cleaner, which Apple called Optimized Storage. Though its capabilities are limited, it gives you basic directions on where to start the cleanup. But for a thorough system cleanup and removing malware, you'll need a dedicated Mac cleaner app.
Can Mac cleaner apps delete my important files?
Typically, best Mac cleaner apps have a protection built-in. They will usually select only those files that are safe for deletion.
Will Mac cleaners slow down my Mac?
Some cleaners try to get into your Login items, thus creating an extra burden on processor. On a flip side, the reliable Mac cleaner apps might even speed up your Mac. They remove all the outdated junk files giving your Mac an extra boost.
Mac cleaning apps you should avoid
Above we've touched the trusted Mac cleanup solutions but there are many that work on the dark side. Malwarebytes lists Advanced Mac Cleaner Pro and similar tools as unwanted applications. Here are some signs that should warn you against using scam Mac cleaners.
Signs of Mac cleaner scam:
- 'Your Mac is infected' intrusive message
- An app is installed as part of different app
- An app finds 2323 (the number is an example) threats on your Mac
- Mac cleaner redirects your search page
Be safe and happy cleaning.
These might also interest you:
Combofix is a freeware (a legitimate spyware remover created by sUBs), Combofix was designed to scan a computer for known malware, spyware (SurfSideKick, QooLogic, and Look2Me as well as any other combination of the mentioned spyware applications) and remove them, ComboFix allows the manual removal of spyware infections. Liquid 14. It's a specialized effective cleaning tool, which is useful compared to other malware and spyware removers. After Combofix finished,a report will be created. You can use this report to search and remove infections which are not automatically removed. Combofix is designed for advanced users and IT professionals. The software's barebones interface, and powerful cleaning capabilities may lead to mistakes that can completely disable a PC. Beginners and Intermediate users should consider ADW Cleaner instead of Combofix.
How to Use Combofix:
- Disable or close all anti-spyware, anti-malware, anti-virus real-time protection
- Download (Download) the latest official ComboFix (4.1mb) save to your desktop
- Close all of software and programs running on your computer
- Double click and start Combofix.exe on your computer desktop
- When Combofix finished, it will create logs for you.
Download Now for Mac OS
Combofix System Requirements
MS Windows 7/XP/Vista 32-bit and 64-bit system. Combofix is NOT compatible with Windows 8.1/10. With Combofix not being compatible with the later versions of windows we have suggestions for you of some of the best malware removal software available. Some of these will help as a spyware detector and spy camera detector also. We know you want the best malware protection with an easy to use interface. These anti malware removal programs should work quite well. They have the easiest to use, best malware removal tools. If you need to get rid of adware, spyware and malware, these should get the job done.
We recommend Windows 8.1/10 users download WiperSoft for your Antimalware protection. Millions of former Combofix users now use WiperSoft to scan and clean their PC's. Download WiperSoft here
How Computer Viruses Infect Your Computer
Hackers create viruses to run silent malicious programs in your computer's background. The virus' purpose is dependent on the hacker's intent, but the result can be devastating. Some viruses corrupt data or delete files on your hard drive. Others send hackers private information, which leads to identity theft. Ubuntu 19 04 minimal. You might not be able to identify a virus, but you can take steps to avoid having your computer infected.
How a Wireless Router is Hacked or Infected by Malware
Wireless routers are convenient networking tools for both businesses and individuals. The problem with these routers is that they open your private network to hackers within range of the signal. This could be someone parked outside your business or even a neighboring apartment. Here are some ways that hackers could infect your network or wireless router.
Hacks You Need to Be Aware Of
Although companies are spending more than ever on computer security (Gartner, a leading IT security firm, estimates that over $71 billion was spent in 2014) you still need to be vigilant. And, with the advent of the so called 'Internet of Things,' you need to look after your data and hardware in places and ways you never even considered before.
Attention Windows 8.1/10 Users!
OnyX is one of the best Mac cleaners because it cleans many specific under-the-surface files, like inner databases and logs. If you know what is XPC cache is, you'll probably like this app. But for us, ordinary Mac users who came here for the design and glossy buttons, OnyX will require some learning time.
Those who use OnyX say it is stable and reliable. There is no dedicated customer service (because OnyX is free software), but you shouldn't be worried. The only likely damage is you accidentally deleting files by yourself.
Price: Free cleaner
5. DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk gives you a visual representation of your Mac folders, making it easy to see what is taking up space and delete the folders you don't need. Download microsoft word mac trial. All you need to do is select a drive, DaisyDisk will scan it, then you can delete everything that is wasting valuable space. It comes with a free and premium version.
Price:$9.99
Free version: Trial version available
6. AppCleaner & Uninstaller
If you only need to uninstall apps on Mac, AppCleaner is a good pick. AppCleaner only removes applications, plugins, and widgets, which are again, small apps. AppCleaner works in a familiar drag & drop mode. Its interface is also clean and easy to understand for a newbie.
After feeding the apps to AppCleaner, you should visit the Leftovers section of the app to erase their remains. Why we place AppCleaner & Uninstaller among free Mac cleaner tools? Because it is 100% free. Whether you will fully clean your Mac using it, is a different question.
AppCleaner & Uninstaller is created by FreeMacSoft, also the makers of LiteIcon, an icon customizer for Mac.
Price: Voluntary donation
7. Smart Mac Care
If you launch Smart Mac Care, it will look hauntingly familiar to other free Mac cleaner apps. Not only features will be called the same, everything up to the fonts, will be identical to some other app you've just used. That's not a minus, though. You can still free up a lot of space with Smart Mac Care.
Smart Mac Care operates by a logic of 'scans.' There is a Junk Scan, Malware Scan, Privacy Scan, etc. Just like Mac Booster, Smart Mac Care removes duplicates scattered in various locations on your Mac. There's also a Memory Optimizer feature that promises to free up RAM on your Mac. In a word, Smart Mac Care resembles every other generic product whose only difference is in packaging. This is supported by the fact that we couldn't find any credible third-party reviews for this app.
On another skeptical note: to uninstall Smart Mac Care you have to enter your admin password. This is not the case with other Mac cleaners we've used.
Price: $56.62 per year
Free version: Demo available Nc20 vs nw20.
8. Drive Genius
Adware Cleaner Malwarebytes 8.0.1
Drive Genius is labeled a 'Mac monitoring software.' It's a whole suite of tools that provide powerful disk diagnostics. It's hard to list a thing that this software doesn't do. You can scan for malware, secure-erase files, customize icons — it's dozens of apps in one body. What makes Drive Genius unique is, probably, its search for corrupted files and inconsistencies on your drive. If your Mac is an old one, keeping it in good health will be easier with Drive Genius.
In a free version, you can use just a fraction of tools, notably a DiskPulse utility. This is an automatic Mac health checker that notifies you before your hard drive fails. Unlike Mac cleaners that merely scan, it is able to repair damage on your disks, which makes it a real deal. Be prepared that hard drive scan may take some time, but the results are worth it. Also note that Drive Genius is not available for macOS Catalina (as of the beginning of 2020).
Price: $299 for Professional edition
Free version: Limited Lite edition is available
9. CCleaner
Originally created in 2004 by Piriform, CCleaner comes with a free and professional version, focusing on businesses and business customers. CCleaner is a cross-platform tool, for PCs, Macs, Android, and it has a Cloud, Network and Technician tool, depending on what you need and the platform/software you use.
The premium version comes with a lot more features, including real-time alerts, free updates, and dedicated support. Although created for PCs in the early days, CCleaner does well to identify unwanted files on a Mac, so that users can select and delete the files and folders they don't need to free up space. As a cleaner for Mac, customers are pretty happy with the results of CCleaner.
Price: $19.95
Free version: Available
10. Sensei
The Sensei app is a relatively new app on the market, but it can be another useful tool for your Mac. The Sensei software developers call the app 'Pro Mac Cleaner' on their website. I would call it a performance controlling tool.
Sensei presents a detailed picture of how your Mac performs. In the Dashboard, you can find out information about your MacBook, check your CPU's current temperature, and see how much of your RAM is used. Cooling gives you exact information on your Mac's fans' speed.
Its Clean option helps to get rid of user cache, logs, large files, etc. The Uninstaller feature allows you to delete apps from your Mac and remove their traces. It doesn't list pre-installed apps from Apple, such as Safari or Calendar, but it shows every app you have installed on your Mac.
Surely, you can clean up your Mac manually, but using dedicated software will save you tons of time.
Price: $29 per year
Free version: Available
Frequently Asked Questions
Can't my Mac clean itself?
Your macOS also has a built-in Mac cleaner, which Apple called Optimized Storage. Though its capabilities are limited, it gives you basic directions on where to start the cleanup. But for a thorough system cleanup and removing malware, you'll need a dedicated Mac cleaner app.
Can Mac cleaner apps delete my important files?
Typically, best Mac cleaner apps have a protection built-in. They will usually select only those files that are safe for deletion.
Will Mac cleaners slow down my Mac?
Some cleaners try to get into your Login items, thus creating an extra burden on processor. On a flip side, the reliable Mac cleaner apps might even speed up your Mac. They remove all the outdated junk files giving your Mac an extra boost.
Mac cleaning apps you should avoid
Above we've touched the trusted Mac cleanup solutions but there are many that work on the dark side. Malwarebytes lists Advanced Mac Cleaner Pro and similar tools as unwanted applications. Here are some signs that should warn you against using scam Mac cleaners.
Signs of Mac cleaner scam:
- 'Your Mac is infected' intrusive message
- An app is installed as part of different app
- An app finds 2323 (the number is an example) threats on your Mac
- Mac cleaner redirects your search page
Be safe and happy cleaning.
These might also interest you:
Combofix is a freeware (a legitimate spyware remover created by sUBs), Combofix was designed to scan a computer for known malware, spyware (SurfSideKick, QooLogic, and Look2Me as well as any other combination of the mentioned spyware applications) and remove them, ComboFix allows the manual removal of spyware infections. Liquid 14. It's a specialized effective cleaning tool, which is useful compared to other malware and spyware removers. After Combofix finished,a report will be created. You can use this report to search and remove infections which are not automatically removed. Combofix is designed for advanced users and IT professionals. The software's barebones interface, and powerful cleaning capabilities may lead to mistakes that can completely disable a PC. Beginners and Intermediate users should consider ADW Cleaner instead of Combofix.
How to Use Combofix:
- Disable or close all anti-spyware, anti-malware, anti-virus real-time protection
- Download (Download) the latest official ComboFix (4.1mb) save to your desktop
- Close all of software and programs running on your computer
- Double click and start Combofix.exe on your computer desktop
- When Combofix finished, it will create logs for you.
Download Now for Mac OS
Combofix System Requirements
MS Windows 7/XP/Vista 32-bit and 64-bit system. Combofix is NOT compatible with Windows 8.1/10. With Combofix not being compatible with the later versions of windows we have suggestions for you of some of the best malware removal software available. Some of these will help as a spyware detector and spy camera detector also. We know you want the best malware protection with an easy to use interface. These anti malware removal programs should work quite well. They have the easiest to use, best malware removal tools. If you need to get rid of adware, spyware and malware, these should get the job done.
We recommend Windows 8.1/10 users download WiperSoft for your Antimalware protection. Millions of former Combofix users now use WiperSoft to scan and clean their PC's. Download WiperSoft here
How Computer Viruses Infect Your Computer
Hackers create viruses to run silent malicious programs in your computer's background. The virus' purpose is dependent on the hacker's intent, but the result can be devastating. Some viruses corrupt data or delete files on your hard drive. Others send hackers private information, which leads to identity theft. Ubuntu 19 04 minimal. You might not be able to identify a virus, but you can take steps to avoid having your computer infected.
How a Wireless Router is Hacked or Infected by Malware
Wireless routers are convenient networking tools for both businesses and individuals. The problem with these routers is that they open your private network to hackers within range of the signal. This could be someone parked outside your business or even a neighboring apartment. Here are some ways that hackers could infect your network or wireless router.
Hacks You Need to Be Aware Of
Although companies are spending more than ever on computer security (Gartner, a leading IT security firm, estimates that over $71 billion was spent in 2014) you still need to be vigilant. And, with the advent of the so called 'Internet of Things,' you need to look after your data and hardware in places and ways you never even considered before.
Attention Windows 8.1/10 Users!
Combofix is NOT compatible with Windows 10 or 8.1.
Malwarebytes Vs Norton
Another Combofix alternative we recommend is Watchdog Anti-Malware. Watchdog has been downloaded by thousands of former Combofix users and is compatible with all latest versions of Windows.
Watchdog provides comprehensive malware identification and cleaning with a user-friendly interface. Very powerful yet safer to than Combofix.
Combofix Reviews
Combofix has been reviewed by dozens of the sites all over world. These Combofix reviews and ratings have been submitted by both professional and amateur editors, as well as, everyday users. The purpose of this page is to provide with you a snapshot of these reviews all in one place.
